Collapsible stacking receptacle



Nov. 24, 1953 c. c. AvERxLL COLLAPSIBLE sTAcKING RECEPTACLE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 R. w/H mw VA m 6 /WW y m /ITTORNEX Patented Nov. 24, 1953COLLAPSIBLE STACKING RECEPTACLE Charles C. Averill, Albion, Mich.,assigner to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich., a corporationof Michigan Application September 29, 1952, Serial No. 312,109

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible stackingreceptacles.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a stacking receptacle formed entirely of wire or lightrod stock, one which may be compactly collapsed, and at the same timewhen erected is strong and rigid and capable of withstanding heavy loadswhen the receptacles are stacked.

Second, to provide a collapsible stacking receptacle embodying theseadvantages which may be economically produced and may be handled bylifting trucks.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of myinvention in erected form.

Fig. 2 is a plan view o the receptacle partially collapsed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating a pair of thereceptacles in stacked relation.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a linecorresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 fragmentary sde elevational view of a modied form or embodimentof my invention, a pair oi receptacles being shown in stacked relation.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to lineT-1 of Fig. 6.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated the sidewalls designatedgenerally as A-A are formed of a vertical series of spaced parallelslats I and a horizontal series of spaced parallel slats 2 disposed incrossed relation and welded together at their crossing points. Thehorizontal slats have laterally turned end portions 3 at theirdiagonally opposite ends, there being a plurality of vertical slats isecured to these laterally turned ends and coacting therewith toconstitute end wall portions B integral with the side walls. The lowerends of the vertical slats of the side walls have inturned extensions 4connected by a plu.- rality of horizontal slats 5 and constitutingbottom supports designated generally by the numerals C-C.

The end walls, designated generally by the numerals D-D are formed ofvertical slats 'l and horizontal slats 8 fixedly connected at theircrossing points as by welding. The bottom, designated generally by thenumeral E is formed of longitudinal slats 9 and transverse slats i0lixedly connected at their crossing points. The end walls are hingedlyor swingably connected at one vertical edge to the adjacent vertical endwall members, and at their other vertical edge to the adjacent edges ofthe side walls.

The hinges are desirably helically coiled members Il which are spiralledabout adjacent vertical slats as illustrated.

The bottom is hingedly connected to one of the longitudinal slats of oneof the bottom support members by means of a helically coiled hingemember l2. This connection permits the bottom being swung to erectedsupported relation on the bottom support members, or swung to acollapsed position against the inner side of the side wall to which itis hingedly connected as shown in Fig. 2.

'This arrangement of walls and bottom is that shown in my companionapplication, the claims Y thereto being presented in that application. I

have used the term side and end walls as a matter of convenience indescribing, and it will be understood that the proportions of the wallsmay be as desired and the receptacles are frequently square.

The stacking members I3 of my present invention are formed of heavy wireor rod stock and comprise spaced parallel side members i4, the upperends of which extend above the walls, and the lower ends of which extendbelow the bottoms and constitute legs and are conformed to constitutestacking lugs. The lower ends of the side members I4 are divergedlaterally at l5 and merge into the inward oiisets I, which constitutesshoulders for the stacking lug portions Il which extend downwardly fromthe shoulders I8. The side members I3 have inward loop-like offsets I 3above the walls constituting rests i9 for the stacking lug shoulders I6.The top crosspiece connects the upper arms of the offsets and in eiectcoact therewith to provide sockets for the stacking lugs I?. When theerected receptacles are superimposed the loads of the upper receptacleare carried entirely by the uprights which are desirably Welded to eachof the horizontal slats as indicated at 2l at the left of Fig. 4. l

The crosspieces 20 of the uprights also constitute handles for thereceptacles. When desired the loaded receptacles may be handled by lifttrucks and lift trucks are desirable for use in stacking. The legssupport the bottom so that the forks of the trucks may be inserted belowthe bottom. It is desirable that the forks should be inserted far enoughso that they engage both bottom members C.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 6 and the `lowerends ofthe nplig-hts have inward Aoffsets 22, while the upper ends of theupright side members I3 are laterally odset at 23 to space them so thatthe legs or stacking lug portions 22 may be received between them VELS.iS shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The legs or lugs Yare provided with aU-shaped stop member 2 5 which rests upon the inturned ends 2;5 at thefupper :ends of the uprights, the top crosspieces of the uprights thenbeing on the irnier .sideoi .the stacking lugs. The stacking uprightsare effective in bracing and reinforcing the walls to which Vthey areconnected, and they carry the load of superimposed receptacles Aso thatthe .grid-like walls are not distorted or subjected to loads other thancontained within the individual receptacle.

,have not attempted to illustrate or .describe other adaptations orembodiments .which I Icontemplate, as I believe this disclosure willVenable those skilled in .the art to embody or adapt my Ainvention asmay be V.desir-ed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire .tosecure b y Letters Patent is:

l. In a collapsible stacking receptacle the combination oi opposed pairsof walls comprising spaced `parallel horizontal and .vertical slatsnxedly connected at :their `crossing points, adjacent l.ends of thewalls being lhingedly connected, a bottom .comprising crossed slatsi'ixedly connested at their .crossing points lhinged-ly .connected to.one wall of an opposed pair to be collapsed upwardly against the innerside thereof when the receptacle is collapsed, the other wall or thepair having a support for the bottom when thereeeptacle is in erectedposition, and combined reintorcing .uprights and stacking members formedof rod stock and comprising spaced side members and top and botto-mcrosspieces 'integral therewith, the sidie members being xedly securedto the horizontal slats of the vopposed walls with the upper ends of theuprights projecting above the walls and their lower ends projectingbelow the walls, said side members having laterally ,downwardly-divergii'le portions adjacent their lower ends merging into inwardoffsets constituting stacking lug shoulders `spaced upwardly relative tothe lower ends of the uprights which constitute stacking lugs, the upperends .of the side members having inwardly oil-set loops positioned abovethe tops of the walls with the upper lcrosspieces outwardly spacedrelative to the walls to receive vthe stacking lugs of a superimposedreceptacle with the top crosspieces on the outer sides thereof.

2. In a collapsible stacking receptacle the combination of opposed pairsof walls comprising spaced parallel horizontal and vertical slatsfixedly connected at their crossing points, adjacent ends of the wallsbeing hingedly connected, a bottom Ycomprising crossed slats Aiixedlyconnected at their crossing points 'hingedly .connected to one wall ofan opposed pair to 'be collapsed up- P wardly against `the inner sidethereof when the receptacle is collapsed, the other wall of the pairhaving `a support for the bottom when the receptacle is in .erectedposition, and combined re info rcing uprights .and stacking membersformed of rod stock and comprising spaced side members and top andbottom crosspieces integral therewith, the side members being xedlysecured to the horizontal slats of the opposed walls with the upper endsof the uprights projecting above the walls and their lower endsprojecting below the walls and offset to constitute stacking lugshoulders ,spaced `.upwardly relative to the lower ends of the uprights,the upper ends ofthe upright side members being offset above the wallsto constitute rests for said shoulders with the upper crosspieces at theouter sides of the stacking lugs of -avsuperimposed receptacle.

3,. Th a collapsible stacking receptacle the combiliartion .0I `opposedpairs of walls comprising spaced parallel horizontal and vertical slatsnxedly connected at their crossing points, adjacent ends of the wallsbeing hingedly connected, a bottom comprising crossed slats iredlyconnected at their crossing points hingedly connected to .one Wall of.an opposed pair to be collapsed upwardly against the inner side thereofwhen the receptacle is collapsed, the other wall of the pair having .asupport for the bottom when the receptacle is in erected position, andcombined reinforcing upright `and stacking members formed of rod stockand comprising spaced side members secured to .the horizontal slats ofthe side walls, and integral crosspieces at the upper and lower .ends ofthe uprights, the crosspieces at the lower end of the uprights havingdownward osets therein providing shouldered stacking lugs, the upperends of the uprights having inward odsets therein .constituting restsfor the shoulders of said stacking lug when the lugs are .disposed onthe inner side of sai-d top crosspieces.

4. In a collapsible stacking receptacle the ccmbination .or wallshingedly ,connected at their adjacent vertical end edges -forcollapsing, a bottom hingedly connected to one side wall to swingupwardly to 4collapsed position at the side thereof, and uprights formedof rod stock and comprising spaced side members, and integralcrosspieces at their upper and lower ends, said uprights being xedlysecured to opposed walls with the upper ends .of the uprights projectingabove the walls and their lower ends projecting below the walls toconstitute legs and stacking lugs, said side members having laterallyand downwardly diverging side portions adjacent their lower ends merginginto inward offsets constituting stacking Vlug shoulders spaced upwardlyrelative to the lower ends of the uprights, :the upper ends of theuprights having offsets therein constituting rests with which ,saidshoulders `coact when the stacking lugs of the superimposed receptaclevare disposed on :the inner sides of the top crosspieces.

5. In a collapsible stacking receptacle .the combination lof wallshingedly connected at their adjacent vertical end edges for collapsing,a bottom hineedl-y connected to one side wall to swing upwardly to.collapsed position at the Aside thereof, and uprights comprising spacedside members, and 4connecting crosspieces at their upper and lower ends,said uprights being ixedly secured to opposed walls with the upper endsof the uprights projecting above the walls and the lower l.endsprojecting below the walls and oset to `ccnlstitute shouldered stackinglugs, the upper ends `of uprghts having offsets therein constitutingrests with which the said stacking `lug shoulders coaot when .thestacking lugs of a superimposed receptacle are disposed on .the innersides of the tcp crosspieces.

6. ,Ina .collapsible stackingreceptacle the combination of wallshingedly connected at their adjacent vertical end edges for collapsing,a bottom hingedly connected to one side Wall to swing upwardly tocollapsed position at the side thereof, and uprights comprising spacedside members, and connecting crosspieces at their upper and lower ends,said uprights being xedly secured to opposed Walls with the upper endsof the uprights projecting above the walls and the lower ends projectingbelow the Walls and offset to con- 10 6 stitute shouldered stackinglugs, the upper ends of uprights having oisets therein constitutingrests with which the said stacking lug shoulders coact When the stackinglugs of a superimposed receptacle are disposed in retaining engagementwith the upper ends of the uprights of the lower receptacle.

CHARLES C. AVERILL.

No references cited.

